A maker of animal drugs has laid off most of its Fort Dodge workers after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration barred the company from producing and selling anything until it meets quality standards.
The workers were employed by Teva Animal Health in a facility at 2116 Eighth Ave. S.
Denise Bradley, the company's senior director of corporate communications, said 95 employees of the plants in Fort Dodge and St. Joseph, Mo., were laid off. She did not specify how many of those workers were from Fort Dodge.
City Councilman Don Wilson, who represents the 2nd Ward where the plant is located, said employees there told him 20 people were laid off. He said just four workers were apparently retained to secure the building.
Jeff Brown, the plant manager, referred all questions to Bradley.
Bradley said the workers will be offered ''both severance and outplacement assistance.''
About a month ago, the FDA ordered Teva Animal Health to stop making and distributing veterinary drugs until it complies with what the agency called ''current good manufacturing practice.''
Inspections conducted between 2007 and 2009 uncovered ''significant'' violations at the St. Joseph plant, according to an announcement from the FDA. The agency's announcement doesn't indicate if any problems were found at the Fort Dodge plant.
''The FDA will not tolerate the manufacture and distribution of adulterated animal drugs,'' Michael Chappell, the FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, said in a statement posted on the agency's Web site. ''Veterinarians and pet owners can be assured that the FDA will investigate and take regulatory actions against companies that produce animal drugs under conditions and controls that are inadequate to assure their safety and quality.''
The company will have to get FDA approval to restart production.
''We are working diligently to swiftly meet all regulatory requirements of the animal health business,'' Bradley said.
The Teva plant has changed hands several times over the last decade. It has operated under the names IVX Animal Health, Sanofi Inc., Merial and Quality Plus/Essar.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
